Poll: Is Gordon Freeman the greatest character in gaming? Why?
- Thread starter MortalKomic
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Well, the point I was trying to make is exactly that. To call that poll a popularity contest is as much as an assumption as calling it greatest character contest. The reasons people would vote are too vague. Your assumption is that it's a popularity contest, whereas it seems the OPs assumption is that it's a greatest character's poll. I would say you're both equally incorrect.DoPo said:
Except, I'm not assuming. Every such poll is a popularity contest - people vote for what they are the most familiar with. That's why you don't get many other characters. Also, if that isn't proof enough, Mario is on second place. You know, the character known for being well known, not that he is a great persona. Heck, I don't know how much of a persona he does have - there have been TV shows, movies, comics, and numerous games, and yet I think he can barely scrape enough together for a a background extra elsewhere.Sparrow said:
Freeman in HL2, EP1 and EP2:
"Hey, guys. I'm a telepathic badass nerdy scientist with incredible both intelligence and physical power. I'm gonna save the world from... whoever they are."
"Ok, cool. Freeman, do this and that. Then return, I'll tell you do that and this."
*GF returns - mission completed*
"Nice, dude. You're awesome. Now, do this and that. After both, check out that and them. Destroy, kill, torture."
while (char_Freeman == "alive")
{ doAction "this and that"};
Most important - do not talk. Don't ask questions. You're nothing.
"Hey, guys. I'm a telepathic badass nerdy scientist with incredible both intelligence and physical power. I'm gonna save the world from... whoever they are."
"Ok, cool. Freeman, do this and that. Then return, I'll tell you do that and this."
*GF returns - mission completed*
"Nice, dude. You're awesome. Now, do this and that. After both, check out that and them. Destroy, kill, torture."
while (char_Freeman == "alive")
{ doAction "this and that"};
Most important - do not talk. Don't ask questions. You're nothing.
I think that, while Freeman is a cool character concept (i.e. Nerdy physics bad-ass who saves the day), he isn't really a character.
As many MANY other posters have pointed out, Freeman serves as a vehicle for the player to interact with the game and game world.
He's intentionally devoid of personality so we the player collective can use him as an extension of ours.
Honestly, I'd put Kratos or Ezio on a list of "Greatest Video Game Characters of all Time". Because, love 'em or hate 'em, at least they have personality.
As many MANY other posters have pointed out, Freeman serves as a vehicle for the player to interact with the game and game world.
He's intentionally devoid of personality so we the player collective can use him as an extension of ours.
Honestly, I'd put Kratos or Ezio on a list of "Greatest Video Game Characters of all Time". Because, love 'em or hate 'em, at least they have personality.
I think in an RPG where projecting yourself onto the character is a main selling point and is required to get into the role, but in a fairly linear game then it isn't really that great.
He is a great character for his purpose. He is supposed to have certain traits implied to flesh out the sense of his character, all without imposing a strict sense of who he is, interfering with the players ability to project themselves onto him. His character design is good, and the use of his silence is done with a deft touch. I'm not sure about him being the best character, since his, "Character" doesn't pull a lot of narrative weight, but it IS a perfect fit for the game he is in. He is as good as he should be, and there is something you can learn from how he is presented, but as far as best character goes, I'd point to a character whose, well, character is more central to the game, like Clementine or Andrew Ryan.